1You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before
whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
2This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did
you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with
faith? 3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit,
are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4Did you suffer
so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain? 5So
then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles
among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

6Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD,
AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
7Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who
are sons of Abraham. 8The Scripture, foreseeing that God
would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand
to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE
BLESSED IN YOU." 9So then
those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

10For as many as are of the works of the Law are under
a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO
DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW,
TO PERFORM THEM." 11Now that no one
is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE
RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." 12However, the
Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO
PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM."
13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having
become a curse for us--for it is written, "CURSED IS
EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A
TREE"-- 14in order that in Christ Jesus the
blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would
receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Intent of the Law

15Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even
though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been
ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 16Now
the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not
say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather
to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ. 17What I am
saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years
later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so
as to nullify the promise. 18For if the inheritance is
based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has
granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

19Why the Law then? It was added because of
transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of
a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been
made. 20Now a mediator is not for one party only;
whereas God is only one. 21Is the Law then
contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had
been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would
indeed have been based on law. 22But the Scripture has
shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus
Christ might be given to those who believe.

23But before faith came, we were kept in custody under
the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.
24Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us
to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25But
now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26For
you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27For
all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves
with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is
neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for
you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you belong to
Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to
promise.

The Holy Bible, New American
Standard Version (c)1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977,
1995 by the Lockman
Foundation, La Habra, CA. All rights reserved. Words
identified as being spoken by Jesus are in red.www.BibleABC.net